The Meyer family, which had been involved with the paper since 1948, bought it in 1998, so that it could continue to be locally owned and operated rather than sold to a larger chain of newspapers.

[12] Joan Meyer, who compiled the Record’s "Memories" column until her death in 2023, was the newspaper's most senior staff member, having worked there for more than 50 years.

He wants to some day hand over the paper to its office manager when he's ready to retire, who has declined his offer, or give it away to "some young people that might be able to come here and might get enchanted with it.

"[10] The raid originated with a dispute between local restaurant owner Kari Newell, and her husband Ryan, who were undergoing divorce proceedings.

Newell alleged someone had accessed her private files by using a piece of postal mail addressed to her by the Kansas Department of Revenue.

[18] Marion Police Department chief Gideon Cody wrote that the records would otherwise not have been accessed if the employee had not impersonated Newell's husband Ryan or lied.

Magistrate judge Laura Viar authorized a search on August 11 in connection with a criminal investigation into identity theft using Newell's information.

[22] On August 11, 2023, the Marion Police Department raided the Record's office and home of one owner, showing a search warrant to publisher Eric Meyer afterward.

[23] Bodycam video showed that recently hired Police Chief Gideon Cody was alerted to the presence of printed information about himself during the raid.

One of them, Deb Gruver, earlier had discovered that Cody had been anticipating being demoted at the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department due to allegations against him of workplace harassment and opted instead for retirement there.

The other reporter, Phyllis Zorn, also stated her intention to sue, citing permanent aggravation of a seizure disorder as a result of the raid.

[6] Cody wrote in a Facebook post that the law allows a search warrant "when there is reason to believe the journalist is taking part in the underlying wrongdoing".

[31] In bodycam footage later obtained by the Record after Eric had left their house during the raid, Joan can be heard telling the police, "You know, if I have a heart attack and die, it's all your fault...

"[32] Her son Eric, publisher and co-owner of the newspaper, stated that a coroner determined that the raid contributed to his mother's death.

[38][39] The Writers Guild of America, East and the NewsGuild-CWA called for the officers who raided the Marion County Record to be held accountable.

[42] On November 8, the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct considered in camera a complaint against magistrate Laura Viar for approving the search warrant for the raid.

"[43] In early December, Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents, deputized to act on behalf of the KBI, interviewed several people about the raid.

[46] In post-raid interviews, owner and publisher Eric Meyer stated that the Record was also in the process of investigating Cody, who was named police chief of Marion two months earlier.

[6] Gideon Cody, a captain in the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department’s property crimes unit, was under internal review for allegedly making insulting and sexist comments to a female officer.

At the end of the internal investigation into the hostile work complaint, Cody was told that he would be demoted to sergeant, so he resigned with captain rank which had an annual salary of $115,848.

[51][52] Record reporter Deb Gruver published anonymous allegations from a former internal affairs detective for KCMO police that Cody had a reputation for bad judgment.

[53][54] On September 28, 2023, Marion Mayor David Mayfield suspended Police Chief Cody with no reason given, a reversal of an earlier decision to allow him to continue working while the Kansas Bureau of Investigation probed his raid.

[57][58][59] On August 30, 2023, Record reporter Deb Gruver sued Chief Gideon Cody for more than $150,000 in compensatory and punitive damages for “emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical injury” in violating her First and Fourth Amendment rights.

[65] Reporter Phyllis Zorn filled a federal lawsuit on February 6, 2024, against a number of local officials seeking $950,000 in damages.

[67] On April 1, 2024, owner and publisher Eric Meyer filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Marion, former mayor David Mayfield, then-Police Chief Gideon Cody, acting Chief Zach Hudlin, the Marion County Board of Commissioners, Sheriff Jeff Soyez and detective Aaron Christner.

[70][71] On July 31 2024, the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct dismissed a complaint against Magistrate Judge Laura Viar that she had improperly authorized the raid.

[72] On August 5, 2024, special prosecutors Marc Bennett and Barry Wilkerson found no evidence supporting the underlying criminal offenses Gideon Cody accused former Marion Vice Mayor Ruth Herbel and reporter Phyllis Zorn of committing in his warrant applications.